Circuit for driving gate of power MOSFET

ABSTRACT

A circuit for driving a gate of a power metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET), which uses a higher voltage than a gate controller is provided. The circuit is able to safely and effectively transmits an output signal of a gate controller irrespective of a frequency and a duty-cycle of the output signal when transmitting the output signal of the gate controller to the power MOSFET using a higher voltage than the gate controller. Accordingly, the circuit is suitable for a case where the duty-cycle of the output signal of the gate controller dramatically changes and the frequency is irregular.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a circuit for driving a gate of a power metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) in a digital audio amplifier, and more particularly, to a circuit for driving a gate of a power MOSFET using a higher voltage than a gate controller which controls the gate of the power MOSFET.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a conventional circuit for driving a gate of a power metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) in a digital audio amplifier. Referring to FIG. 1, a first power source voltage V_(DD), that is, a positive power source voltage, is applied to a source of a power PMOSFET transistor PM and a second power source voltage V_(SS), that is, a negative power source voltage, is applied to a source of a power NMOSFET transistor NM. A gate controller 11 uses a third power source voltage V_(CC), which is lower than the first power source voltage V_(DD), and a fourth power source voltage V_(EE), which is lower than the second power source voltage V_(SS).

In a conventional circuit for driving a gate 13, capacitors C₁ and C₂ are generally used to maintain a voltage difference between the gate controller 11 and the power MOSFET transistors PM and NM, and to transmit an output signal of the gate controller 11 to the power MOSFET transistors PM and NM. In addition, resistances R₁ and R₂ are further included to charge and discharge the capacitors C₁ and C₂.

FIGS. 2A through 2C illustrate voltages of main nodes V_(GC), V_(GP), and V_(GN) of the circuit of FIG. 1 when a duty-cycle is very small.

The conventional circuit for driving the gate 13 does not have a problem in operating when the duty-cycle of the output signal V_(GC) of the gate controller 11 is in a range of about 50%. However, when the duty-cycle of the output signal V_(GC) of the gate controller 11 is beyond 50%, an on resistance is decreased in one of the power MOSFET transistors PM and NM, while the on resistance is increased in the other of the power MOSFET transistors PM and NM. That is, as shown in FIG. 2B, an amplitude of a gate signal V_(GP) of the power PMOSFET transistor PM is equal to an amplitude of the output signal V_(GC) of the gate controller 11, that is, V_(CC)-V_(EE). However, the gate signal V_(GP) goes only a little down from a source potential V_(DD), drops slightly and thus, an effective gate voltage, which may turn the power PMOSFET transistor PM on, becomes small. Therefore, the power PMOSFET transistor PM is not turned on, or even if it is turned on, the power PMOSFET transistor PM has large resistance.

On the contrary, when the duty-cycle is very large, the power NMOSFET transistor NM is not turned on, or even if it is turned on, the power NMOSFET transistor NM has large resistance. That is, operation of the conventional circuit for driving the gate depends on the frequency and duty-cycle of the output signal of the gate controller 11, and when the duty-cycle is very small or large, the power MOSFET transistors cannot safely nor effectively operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the above and other problems, the present invention provides a circuit for driving a gate, which safely and effectively drives power MOSFET transistors irrespective of a frequency and duty-cycle of a gate controller, especially when the power MOSFET transistors use a higher voltage than the gate controller.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided

-   a circuit for driving a gate of a power MOSFET in a digital audio     amplifier, which includes a power PMOSFET transistor in which a     first power source voltage is applied to a source and an output     terminal is connected to a drain; a power NMOSFET transistor in     which the output terminal is connected to a drain and a second power     source voltage is applied to a source; a gate controller which uses     a third power source voltage which is lower than the first power     source voltage and a fourth power source voltage which is lower than     the second power source voltage, and controls gates of the power     PMOSFET and NMOSFET transistors; and an output filter which is     connected to the output terminal and has an inductor and a     capacitor, the circuit comprising: a first resistance connected     between the first power source voltage and the gate of the power     PMOSFET transistor; a second resistance connected between the second     power source voltage and the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor; a     first capacitor connected between an output terminal of the gate     controller and the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; a second     capacitor connected between the output terminal of the gate     controller and the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor; a first     diode connected between the output terminal of the gate controller     and the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; and a second diode     connected between the output terminal of the gate controller and the     gate of the power NMOSFET transistor.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a circuit for driving a gate of a power MOSFET in a digital audio amplifier, which includes a power PMOSFET transistor in which a first power source voltage is applied to a source and an output terminal is connected to a drain; a power NMOSFET transistor in which the output terminal is connected to a drain and a second power source voltage is applied to a source; a gate controller which use a third power source voltage lower than the first power source voltage and a fourth power source voltage lower than the second power source voltage, and controls gates of the power PMOSFET and NMOSFET transistors; and an output filter which is connected to the output terminal and has an inductor and a capacitor, the circuit comprising: a first resistance connected between the first power source voltage and the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; a second resistance connected between the second power source voltage and the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor; a first capacitor connected between the output terminal of the gate controller and the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; a second capacitor connected between the output terminal of the gate controller and the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor; a first diode, one end of which is connected to the first power source voltage; a second diode, one end of which is connected to the other end of the first diode and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; a third diode, one end of which is connected to the second power source voltage and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; and a fourth diode, one end of which is connected to other end of the third diode and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a circuit for driving a gate of a power MOSFET in a digital audio amplifier, which includes a power PMOSFET transistor in which a first power source voltage is applied to a source and an output terminal is connected to a drain; a power NMOSFET transistor in which the output terminal is connected to a drain and a second power source voltage is applied to a source; a gate controller which use a third power source voltage which is lower than the first power source voltage and a fourth power source voltage which is lower than the second power source voltage, and controls gates of the power PMOSFET and NMOSFET transistors; and an output filter which is connected to the output terminal and has an inductor and a capacitor, the circuit comprising: a first resistance connected between the first power source voltage and the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; a second resistance connected between the second power source voltage and the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor; a first capacitor, one end of which is connected the output terminal of the gate controller; a second capacitor, one end of which is connected to the output terminal of the gate controller; a first diode, one end of which is connected to the first power source voltage and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; a second diode, one end of which is connected to other end of the first capacitor and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; a third diode, one end of which is connected to the second power source voltage and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor; and a fourth diode, one end of which is connected to other end of the second capacitor and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor.

The circuit for driving the gate according to the another or still another aspect of the present invention may further comprise a current source which is connected to the gates of the power PMOSFET and NMOSFET transistors and the output terminal of the gate controller.

Accordingly, the circuit for driving the gate according to present invention has an advantage in that the circuit safely and effectively transmits the output signal of the gate controller irrespective of the frequency and duty-cycle of the output signal when transmitting the output signal of the gate controller to the power MOSFET transistor using a higher power source voltage than the gate controller.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a conventional circuit for driving a gate of a power metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) in a digital audio amplifier;

FIGS. 2A through 2C illustrate voltages of main nodes V_(GC), V_(GP), and V_(GN) of the circuit of FIG. 1 when a duty-cycle is very small;

FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a circuit for driving a gate of a power MOSFET in a digital audio amplifier, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating a circuit for driving a gate of a power MOSFET in a digital audio amplifier, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating a circuit for driving a gate of a power MOSFET in a digital audio amplifier, according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating a circuit for driving a gate of a power MOSFET in a digital audio amplifier, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a circuit for driving a gate of a power MOSFET in a digital audio amplifier, according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown. To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures.

FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating a circuit for driving a gate of a power MOSFET in a digital audio amplifier, according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, a first power source voltage V_(DD), that is, a positive power source voltage, is applied to a source of a power PMOSFET transistor PM₁ and a second power source voltage V_(SS), that is, a negative power source voltage, is applied to a source of a power NMOSFET transistor NM₁. A gate controller 31 uses a third power source voltage V_(CC), which is lower than the first power source voltage V_(DD) and a fourth power source voltage V_(EE), which is lower than the second power source voltage V_(SS). A filter 35, which is formed of an inductor L and a capacitor C, is connected to an output terminal V_(D), that is, a connecting point between the power PMOSFET transistor PM₁ and the power NMOSFET transistor NM₁, and an output terminal V_(OUT) of the filter 35 is connected to a speaker 37.

A circuit for driving a gate 33 comprises a first resistance R₁, which is connected between the first power source voltage V_(DD) and a gate of the power PMOSFET transistor PM₁, a second resistance R₂, which is connected between the second power source voltage V_(SS) and a gate of the power NMOSFET transistor NM₁, a first capacitor C₁, which is connected between an output terminal of a gate controller 31 and the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor PM₁, a second capacitor C₂, which is connected between the output terminal of the gate controller 31 and the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor NM₁, a first diode D₁, which is connected between the output terminal of the gate controller 31 and the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor PM₁, and a second diode D₂, which is connected between the output terminal of the gate controller 31 and the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor NM₁.

The first and second diodes D₁ and D₂ may be general diodes, but they are preferably zener diodes.

Specifically, the diodes D₁ and D₂ are connected to the capacitors C_(1 and C) ₂ in parallel in order to prevent the capacitors C₁ and C₂ from being overcharged. Typically, while the capacitors C₁ and C₂ compensate for voltage differences between the gate controller 31 and the power MOSFET transistors PM₁ and NM₁, the capacitors C_(1 and C) ₂ transmit a signal component intact. Therefore, a voltage corresponding to a difference between the first power source voltage V_(DD) and the third power source voltage V_(CC) is charged in the capacitor C₁, which is connected between the gate controller 31 and the power PMOSFET transistor PM₁, and a voltage corresponding to a difference between the second power source voltage V_(SS) and the fourth power source voltage V_(EE) is charged in the capacitor C₂, which is connected between the gate controller 31 and the power NMOSFET transistor NM₁.

In the circuit of FIG. 3, a desired voltage can be charged in the capacitors C_(1 and C) ₂ by adjusting a breakdown voltage of the zener diodes D₁ and D₂. Moreover, unlike the conventional circuit of FIG. 1, the capacitors C₁ and C₂ are charged and discharged only through the resistances R₁ and R₂ in the circuit of FIG. 3, and thus, the circuit is able to sufficiently reduce an operating current and safely operate irrespective of a duty-cycle by increasing values of the resistances R₁ and R₂.

FIG. 4 is a drawing illustrating a circuit for driving a gate of a power MOSFET in a digital audio amplifier, according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, a circuit for driving a gate 43 comprises a first resistance R₁, which is connected between a first power source voltage V_(DD) and a gate of a power PMOSFET transistor PM₁, a second resistance R₂, which is connected between a second power source voltage V_(SS) and a gate of the power NMOSFET transistor NM₁, a first capacitor C₁, which is connected between an output terminal of a gate controller 31 and the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor PM₁, a second capacitor C₂, which is connected between the output terminal of the gate controller 31 and the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor NM₁, a first diode D₁, one end of which is connected to the first power source voltage V_(DD), a second diode D₂, one end of which is connected to the other end of the first diode D₁ and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor PM₁, a third diode D₃, one end of which is connected to the second power source voltage V_(SS), and a fourth diode D₄, one end of which is connected to other end of the third diode D₃ and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor NM₁.

The first through fourth diodes D₁, D₂, D₃, and D₄ may be general diodes, but they are preferably zener diodes.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, although the power source voltages V_(DD) and V_(SS) which are applied to the power MOSFET transistors PM₁ and NM₁ are changed, the circuit for driving the gate 43 constantly maintains gate-source voltages of the power MOSFET transistors PM₁ and NM₁ by zener diodes D₁ and D₃. However, when the power MOSFET transistors PM₁ and NM₁ are turned off, another diodes D₂ and D₄ are used in order to prevent the capacitors C₁ and C₂ to be discharged through the zener diodes D₁ and D₃. In this case, general diodes may be used, but when zener diodes are used, there is an advantage in limiting the gate-source voltages of the power MOSFET transistors PM₁ and NM₁. In addition, a trade-off between voltages applied to the power MOSFET transistors PM₁ and NM₁ and currents charged and discharged in the capacitors C₁ and C₂ is possible by adjusting a breakdown voltage of the diodes D₂ and D₄.

FIG. 5 is a drawing illustrating a circuit for driving a gate of a power MOSFET in a digital audio amplifier, according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, a circuit for driving a gate 53 comprises a first resistance R₁, which is connected between a first power source voltage V_(DD) and a gate of a power PMOSFET transistor PM₁, a second resistance R₂, which is connected between a second power source voltage V_(SS) and a gate of a power NMOSFET transistor NM₁, a first capacitor C₁, one end of which is connected to an output terminal of a gate controller 31, a second capacitor C₂, one end of which is connected to the output terminal of the gate controller 31, a first diode D₁, one of which is connected to the first power source voltage V_(DD) and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor PM₁, a second diode D₂, one end of which is connected to the other end of the first capacitor C₁ and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor PM₁, a third diode D₃, one end of which is connected to the second power source voltage V_(SS) and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor NM₁, and a fourth diode D₄, one end of which is connected to the other end of the second capacitor C₂, and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor NM₁.

The first through fourth diodes D₁, D₂, D₃, and D₄ may be general diodes, but they are preferably zener diodes.

More particularly, when the power MOSFET transistors PM₁ and NM₁ are turned off, the circuit for driving the gate 53 prevents a gate voltage from going beyond a scope of the power source voltages V_(DD) and V_(SS) by connecting the zener diodes D₂ and D₄, which prevent the charged capacitors C_(1 and C) ₂ from being discharged, to the capacitors C_(1 and C) ₂ in series. Therefore, an overvoltage is not applied to the power MOSFET transistors PM₁ and NM₁.

Meanwhile, a breakdown occurs in a turned-off power MOSFET transistor among the power MOSFET transistors PM₁ and NM₁ _(—) when adjusting the breakdown voltage of the zener diodes D₂ and D₄, which block the discharge of the capacitors C₁ and C₂.

Resistances R_(1 and R) ₂ of FIGS. 4 and 5 are not essential elements in a switching operation and play a supplementary role of turning the power MOSFET transistors PM₁ and NM₁ off by charging the capacitors C₁ and C₂ when the gate controller 31 does not operate.

FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating a circuit for driving a gate of a power MOSFET in a digital audio amplifier, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, a circuit for driving a gate 63 further comprises a current source 631, compared to the second embodiment of the present invention.

The current source 631 comprises a resistance R₃, one end of which is connected to an output terminal of a gate controller 31, a NPN bipolar transistor Q₁, an emitter of which is connected to other end of the resistance R₃, a base of which is connected to a grounding voltage G_(ND), and a collector of which is connected to a gate of a power PMOSFET transistor PM₁, and a P_(NP) bipolar transistor Q₂, an emitter of which is connected to the other end of the resistance R₃, a base of which is connected to a grounding voltage G_(ND), and a collector of which is connected to a gate of a power NMOSFET transistor NM₁.

More specifically, when one of the power MOSFET transistors PM₁ and NM₁ is turned on, a capacitor connected to the turned-on power MOSFET transistor PM₁ or NM₁ is charged or discharged through the resistance or zener diode, and then, if a switching frequency of the gate controller 31 is slow, the turned-on power MOSFET transistor PM₁ or NM₁ is turned off. However, as shown in FIG. 6, if currents through the resistance and the zener diode are compensated by the current source 631, the gate voltage is maintained constant. At this time, only one of the two bipor transistors Q₁ and Q₂, which is connected to the turned-on power MOSFET transistor PM₁ or NM₁, is turned on and generates current and the other is turned off. The current is determined by adjusting a value of R₃, and the gate-source voltage of the turned-on power MOSFET transistor PM₁ or NM₁ is determined by multiplying the resistance R₁ or R₂ and the current.

FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a circuit for driving a gate of a power MOSFET in a digital audio amplifier, according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, a circuit for driving a gate 73 further comprises a current source 731, compared to the third embodiment of the present invention. The current source 731 has the same structure with the current source 631. The circuit for driving the gate 73, like the circuit for driving the gate 63, prevents the power MOSFET transistors PM₁ and NM₁ from being turned off by the current source 731 when the frequency of the output signal of the gate controller 31 is slow.

In the current sources 631 and 731 of FIGS. 6 and 7, an NMOSFET transistor may be used instead of the NPN polar transistor Q₁ and a PMOSFET transistor may also be used instead of the PNP bipolar transistor Q₂. In the case of the PMOSFET transistor, a source is connected to the other end of the resistance R₃, a gate is connected to a grounding voltage V_(SS), and a drain is connected to the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor PM₁. In the case of the NMOSFET transistor, a source is connected to the other end of the resistance R₃ and a gate is connected to the grounding voltage V_(SS), and a drain is connected to the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor NM₁.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

As described above, a circuit for driving a gate according to the present invention has an advantage in that the circuit safely and effectively transmits an output signal of a gate controller irrespective of a frequency and duty-cycle of the output signal of, when transmitting the output signal of the gate controller to the power MOSFET transistor using a higher power source voltage than the gate controller. Therefore, the circuit is suitable for a case where the duty-cycle of the output signal of the gate controller dramatically changes and the frequency is irregular. 

1. A circuit for driving a gate of a power metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) in a digital audio amplifier including a power PMOSFET transistor in which a first power source voltage is applied to a source and an output terminal is connected to a drain; a power NMOSFET transistor in which the output terminal is connected to a drain and a second power source voltage is applied to a source; a gate controller which uses a third power source voltage which is lower than the first power source voltage and a fourth power source voltage which is lower than the second power source voltage, and controls gates of the power PMOSFET and NMOSFET transistors; and an output filter which is connected to the output terminal and has an inductor and a capacitor, the circuit comprising: a first resistance connected between the first power source voltage and the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; a second resistance connected between the second power source voltage and the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor; a first capacitor connected between an output terminal of the gate controller and the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; a second capacitor connected between the output terminal of the gate controller and the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor; a first diode connected between the output terminal of the gate controller and the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; and a second diode connected between the output terminal of the gate controller and the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor.
 2. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the first and second diodes are zener diodes.
 3. A circuit for driving a gate of a power MOSFET in a digital audio amplifier including a power PMOSFET transistor in which a first power source voltage is applied to a source and an output terminal is connected to a drain; a power NMOSFET transistor in which the output terminal is connected to a drain and a second power source voltage is applied to a source; a gate controller which uses a third power source voltage which is lower than the first power source voltage and a fourth power source voltage which is lower than the second power source voltage, and controls gates of the power PMOSFET and NMOSFET transistors; and an output filter which is connected to the output terminal and has an inductor and a capacitor, the circuit comprising: a first resistance connected between the first power source voltage and the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; a second resistance connected between the second power source voltage and the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor; a first capacitor connected between an output terminal of the gate controller and the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; a second capacitor connected between the output terminal of the gate controller and the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor; a first diode, one end of which is connected to the first power source voltage; a second diode, one end of which is connected to the other end of the first diode and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; a third diode, one end of which is connected to the second power source voltage; and a fourth diode, one end of which is connected to the other end of the third diode and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor.
 4. A circuit for driving a gate of a power MOSFET in a digital audio amplifier including a power PMOSFET transistor in which a first power source voltage is applied to a source and an output terminal is connected to a drain; a power NMOSFET transistor in which the output terminal is connected to a drain and a second power source voltage is applied to a source; a gate controller which uses a third power source voltage which is lower than the first power source voltage and a fourth power source voltage which is lower than the second power source voltage, and controls gates of the power PMOSFET and NMOSFET transistors; and an output filter which is connected to the output terminal and has an inductor and a capacitor, the circuit comprising: a first resistance connected between the first power source voltage and the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; a second resistance connected between the second power source voltage and the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor; a first capacitor, one end of which is connected an output terminal of the gate controller; a second capacitor, one end of which is connected to the output terminal of the gate controller; a first diode, one end of which is connected to the first power source voltage and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; a second diode, one end of which is connected to the other end of the first capacitor and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; a third diode, one end of which is connected to the second power source voltage and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor; and a fourth diode, one end of which is connected to the other end of the second capacitor and other end of which is connected to the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor.
 5. The circuit of claim 3 or 4, wherein the first through fourth diodes are zener diodes.
 6. The circuit of claim 3 or 4 further comprising a current source which is connected to the gates of the power PMOSFET and NMOSFET transistors and the output terminal of the gate controller.
 7. The circuit of claim 6, wherein the current source comprises: a resistance, one end of which is connected to the output terminal of the gate controller; a NPN bipolar transistor, an emitter of which is connected to other end of the resistance, a base of which is connected to a grounding voltage, and a collector of which is connected to the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; and a PNP bipolar transistor, an emitter of which is connected to the other end of the resistance, a base of which is connected to a grounding voltage, and a collector of which is connected to the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor.
 8. The circuit of claim 6, wherein the current source comprises: a resistance, one end of which is connected to the output terminal of the gate controller; a NMOSFET transistor, a source of which is connected to other end of the resistance, a gate of which is connected to a grounding voltage, and a drain of which is connected to the gate of the power PMOSFET transistor; and a PMOSFET transistor, a source of which is connected to the other end of the resistance, and a gate of which is connected to a grounding voltage, and a drain of which is connected to the gate of the power NMOSFET transistor. 